James Earl Jones Wins AEA's 2011 Paul Robeson Award

The Actors' Equity Association announced today that veteran actor James Earl Jones is the 2011 recipient of the Paul Robeson Award.

The two-time Tony Award-winning Jones was awarded the prize by AEA because he "best exemplifies the principles by which Mr. Robeson lived", the required winning criteria.

Jones sent the following statement from West End, London, where he's currently starring in Driving Miss Daisy, to be read at AEA's General Membership meeting this Friday:

"Mr. Robeson was blessed with many endowments-among them the scholarship and athleticism of his youth, and the activist commitment that followed his fame as a performer. Perhaps he reached the most souls (including mine) as a singer and artist in the performing arts, and in doing so, he mightily elevated the importance of art to humanity."